Afternoon—
After school—
Su Yu and the others arrived at the student council office.
Shirogane Meguri had arrived early. The other person there wasn't a Sobu High student, but rather, Tsurumi Saori.
She had come both to restock the sweets and as part of her new job responsibilities.
"Master Su Yu." Dressed in her professional suit, Tsurumi Saori stood up and bowed upon seeing him.
"The person you're picking up is Saki's little sister," Su Yu told her.
"Hello, Miss Tsurumi," Kawasaki Saki stepped forward to greet her.
"Hello, Miss Saki." Tsurumi glanced at Su Yu and Saki and seemed to realize something.
"I heard from Hanada Yui that you have a daughter. If you're already picking someone up, why not bring her too? After dinner, you can all go home together. Saki's little sister doesn't have many friends. If she could have another big sister, that'd be nice," Su Yu continued.
"Yes." Tsurumi Saori's face was full of gratitude.
She had been about to bring up this idea herself, but Su Yu had anticipated her and even offered to let her daughter come along.
"Here's a card with 1 million yen on it. Use it for groceries, desserts, and anything else the student council needs. I'll have you make purchases and deliver them here," Su Yu said, handing her a bank card.
"Understood." Tsurumi Saori hesitated a little but accepted the card.
She then left with Kawasaki Saki.
"Su Yu-kun, who was that?" Meguri asked after Tsurumi had gone.
"She's the assistant I hired. She'll be handling various tasks," Su Yu answered casually.
"Oh," Meguri replied, asking no further.
"Su Yu-kun, aren't you worried about just handing her a bank card like that? What if she takes off with it?" Ebina Hina joked.
"If you were willing to become my assistant, I'd give you not just a 1-million-yen card—I'd give you one with a hundred million, or even a billion," Su Yu said, looking straight at her.
"I'll pass. I get the feeling if I took that, I'd end up completely under your thumb," Hina adjusted her glasses with a smile.
"Don't worry, I'd take full responsibility." Su Yu then walked over to Meguri.
Startled, Meguri quickly stood up and gave up the student council president's seat to him.
Ebina Hina chuckled—she clearly didn't take his words too seriously.
Miura Yumiko and Yuigahama Yui exchanged a glance. Truthfully, neither of them minded Ebina Hina being part of things…
Su Yu sat in the president's chair and began reviewing the budget reports for the Gardening and Cooking Clubs.
Although newly established, both clubs had applied for fairly large budgets.
The school principal had even allocated additional funding.
Su Yu quickly read through the applications and approved them.
Meguri, watching from the side, opened her mouth to object but held back.
After all, the principal had already told her that Su Yu had full authority over student council matters.
"Senpai, sign here," Su Yu said after stamping the documents, handing them to Meguri.
Obediently, she signed.
"Good. As a reward, Senpai, go grab yourself a dessert," Su Yu said, patting Meguri gently on the head.
Meguri blushed brightly.
She wanted to say, I'm your senpai, but—
She didn't really have the dignity to back that up.
So—
Meguri went to get a dessert.
…
After wrapping up student council business—
Su Yu went to check on the Gardening Club's plot.
The club now had over twenty members, all girls. After planting the vegetables, they marked each section with what was growing.
The crops were common vegetables—not enough to supply the cafeteria, but still something.
That was fine.
The school would buy a lot of ingredients anyway, and if these could be used at the cultural festival, all the better.
Su Yu thought of the cultural festival scenes in anime.
While not especially useful as references, they sparked an idea.
Maybe Miura Yumiko could showcase her idol talents at the festival.
If Su Yu were to acquire an idol agency before then—
Sobu High might attract girls who wanted to become idols.
"High schoolers aiming to become idols? That could make for an interesting crossover with the anime." With that in mind, Su Yu headed toward the tennis courts.
…
After playing tennis for over half an hour—
Su Yu received a call from Tsurumi Saori.
She had picked up both Kawasaki Keika and her own daughter and was now at Sobu High's gate.
Su Yu asked her to bring the two girls to the student council office first.
Tsurumi agreed.
Su Yu hung up and returned to the student council office.
When he opened the door, he saw Tsurumi Rumi sitting on the sofa.
She resembled Yukinoshita Yukino, but also not quite.
They both had long, jet-black hair.
But unlike Yukino's former icy aura, Rumi wasn't aloof—just lonely.
Rumi turned toward the door when she saw someone enter.
"Master Su Yu." Tsurumi Saori stood and greeted him.
"Take a seat." Su Yu waved a hand and walked to the fridge, pulling out three servings of dessert.
One for Kawasaki Keika, who was doing homework, and one each for Saori and Rumi.
"Master Su Yu…"
"No need to be so formal," Su Yu said with a glance.
"Yes." Tsurumi Saori fell silent.
"Thank you," Tsurumi Rumi said softly. Her voice was clear and pleasant.
Su Yu gave her a smile but didn't say more.
"Senpai, you're not seriously…" Isshiki Iroha took the opportunity to approach him, her expression one of mock shock.
"Don't want dessert anymore?" Su Yu asked, looking at her.
"I was wrong, Senpai…" Iroha instantly shifted into a pitiful tone.
"If you ever have questions, ask her." Su Yu patted Iroha's head, then turned to Rumi.
"I… I understand." Rumi looked at the two of them, sensing an unusual relationship.
"Senpai…" Iroha clung to Su Yu's sleeve.
He said nothing and returned to the fridge for another dessert.
Iroha's face lit up—just as she was about to go to him, Su Yu placed the dessert in front of Yuigahama Yui.
Her smile froze instantly.
"Su Yu-kun…" Yui glanced at Iroha's expression, thinking Su Yu might have gone a little too far.
Ebina Hina chuckled quietly, fully understanding Su Yu's intent.
Then—
Yuigahama Yui picked up the dessert and walked over to Iroha.
"Sorry. I'll apologize on Su Yu-kun's behalf."
"Yui-senpai, you're an angel."
Iroha's smile returned immediately.
Yui blushed slightly, smiled awkwardly, and returned to her seat.
Iroha puffed her cheeks, glared at Su Yu for a second, then carried her dessert to a nearby spot to eat.
By Su Yu's side—
"Su Yu-kun, don't bully Iroha anymore," Yui whispered.
"Yui, Su Yu-kun didn't bully her," Ebina Hina chimed in.
"Eh?" Yui blinked, not quite understanding what Ebina meant.